A mother with a baby on her back and luggage on her head on her way to get on the bus (Photo: Ashraf Hendricks / GroundUp)
By Matthew Hirsch for GroundUp
Dozens of immigrant families were transported from the Overberg on Friday afternoon after xenophobic violence and demonstrations against foreigners flared up in parts of the Western Cape.
According to GroundUp, women with babies on their shoulders, men with suitcases and families with their belongings queued in Kleinmond to get on buses to Malawi. Three buses, arranged by the Malawian government, were packed.
The departure follows after hundreds of people took part in a march in Kleinmond and demanded that immigrants leave the area. Many foreigners reportedly fled their homes and spent the night in the mountains and dunes.
Dozens of people queue to board a bus (Photo: Ashraf Hendricks / GroundUp)
Winston Masupula, who lives in Kleinmond, said he and his family decided to leave the area after what he said were people going door to door.
“They said they were going to kill us,” he told GroundUp. “We better go home. We have good things to do there.”
According to GroundUp, victims’ documents were checked earlier. Those with valid documents were allowed to remain in the country, but those without were advised to voluntarily return to their countries of origin.
A similar scene played out in Gansbaai, where a protest forced about 200 people from their homes. The Overstrand Municipality housed 115 people in the Stanford Community Hall.
Laundry hangs on a tree outside the Stanford Community Hall where 115 immigrants are housed (Photo: Ashraf Hendricks / GroundUp)
Later, the hall was still full of people, mostly from Mozambique and Malawi. Among them were women, children and men packing their bags as they waited for transport.
Domingos Cossa, an immigrant from Mozambique, said he left South Africa last year to look for work.
“It’s not a good thing. I feel sad,” Cossa said.
Domingos Cossa, an immigrant from Mozambique, said he came to South Africa in search of work (Photo: Ashraf Hendricks / GroundUp)
Richard Opperman, a member of the Stanford Community Policing Forum, said the ward serves as a “safe haven” for the displaced immigrants. He thanked the municipality and Gift of the Givers for their help.
Dean O’Neill, municipal manager of Overstrand, said in a statement that the municipality continues to receive inquiries, especially from homeowners and employers, about safe accommodation options for foreign workers who are afraid to return to their homes.
Tensions remain high in the area.
About 100 people also marched in Hermanus from the Zwelihle sports center to the municipality’s offices and demanded that immigrants leave the area. Some protesters held up placards with messages such as “enough is enough” and “go home”.
Around 100 people protested against foreigners in Hermanus (Photo: Ashraf Hendricks / GroundUp)
Municipality gives latest information on repatriation
By Maroela Media editors
The Overstrand municipality meanwhile said the repatriation process is being coordinated by the incident command centre.
According to Dean O’Neill, municipal manager of Overstrand, the three buses that left Kleinmond City Hall are on their way to the Lindela Repatriation Center in Krugersdorp, where undocumented foreigners are processed by the Department of Home Affairs. Two buses with people from Gansbaai are also on their way to Lindela.
A group of 38 displaced people are still at the municipal property in Hermanus, while a bus arranged by the Mozambican embassy has arrived at the community hall in Stanford to transport Mozambican citizens.
O’Neill said municipal facilities will not be reopened to accommodate people as the venues must now be prepared for the voter registration weekend of June 20 and 21.
The incident command center also urged foreigners in the greater Hermanus area who are threatened or intimidated, or who fear for their safety, to report the matter to the Hermanus police station. Temporary support measures may, after assessment by the relevant authorities, be provided where necessary.
The municipality emphasized that the transport arranged was only available to people housed at the designated wards and whose details had been formally recorded and verified by the Department of Home Affairs. It should therefore not be considered a free transport service or “free ticket” to another destination.
Immigrants warned to leave country ‘by June 30’
By Kimberly Mutandiro for GroundUp
Protesters arrived with sticks and shields on Friday at a protest against immigrants in Actonville, Wattville and other areas in Benoni (Photo: Ihsaan Haffejee / GroundUp)
Meanwhile, hundreds of people also took part in a march against immigrants in Benoni, Gauteng. According to GroundUp, protesters moved through Actonville, Wattville and other parts of Benoni demanding that illegal immigrants leave South Africa.
Shops and stalls in Actonville and Wattville belonging to immigrants closed for the day.
The organizers described the march as a peaceful march against crime and illegal immigration. However, some protesters carried sticks and shields and chanted anti-immigrant chants.
Grandfather Sello, one of the local organizers of the protests against immigrants in the greater Benoni region. He addressed supporters in Actonville. (Photo: Ihsaan Haffejee / GroundUp)
Grandpa Sello, one of the organizers, accused undocumented immigrants of taking over the informal economy and being responsible for unemployment, hijackings, cable theft, drugs and murder.
“If illegal immigrants do not leave the country by June 30, we will come up with another form of action,” said Sello.
Bangladeshi shop owners in the area told GroundUp they would not leave South Africa unless the South African government ordered them to do so.
“I have been in South Africa for 17 years and I have a business. Why should I go home?” Mohammed Rashid wanted to know.
The latest events follow amid increasing tensions over immigration in South Africa. President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses the country on Sunday evening about the government’s approach to illegal immigration and recent protests against foreigners.
A resident of Wattville watches as protesters walk through the streets (Photo: Ihsaan Haffejee / GroundUp)
A policeman stops a group of school children from joining the protest (Photo: Ihsaan Haffejee / GroundUp)